Library, anchor of democracy

Asked what kind of government the Founders had given us, Benjamin Franklin famously quipped, “A republic, if you can keep it.” Two and a quarter centuries later — even through wars and civil strife, assassinations and terrorist attacks — we have succeeded in keeping our republic. Yet one has only to look at the history of other great republics to realize that their perennial existence is far from guaranteed. As Wendell Phillips reminded the Massachusetts Anti-Slavery Society in 1852, “Eternal vigilance is the price of liberty.”

In the vigilant defense of democracy, the public library plays a fundamental and indispensable role. Far from being merely a “house of books,” the library is a support wall in the House of Democracy. The quaint image of the library as a quiet abode of readers whose silence is enforced by the “shush” of the librarian is comically out-of-date. The shushing has given way to encouraging people to claim their voice and be heard in the democratic forum.

Nowhere is the First Amendment more routinely venerated, defended, promoted, and actualized than in our libraries, where freedom of speech and the free exchange of ideas are the sine qua non. This is where the battle against censorship is engaged without wavering and without retreat, where the playing field is leveled through equal access to information, and where bridges are built to overcome language gaps, the digital divide, and other impediments to full participation in our civic life.

Under the recent visionary leadership of head librarians Mark Contois and now Wei Jeng-Chu, the Worcester Public Library has grown and adapted as a democratic institution, enhancing and upgrading the experience for patrons across a diverse demographic. With roughly a half-million visits annually (and now with seven-day-a-week service, we are projecting a million visits system-wide), the main library is indeed a solid anchor for the downtown area — not to mention the services in Greendale; Great Brook Valley; and throughout the city by way of Libby, the mobile “Library Express”; or the extensive connections made through the Internet, by phone or text, through social media, etc.

Working with the city, our schools and colleges, the business community, social service agencies, cultural and other institutions, as well as patrons, we continually assess and adjust the resources of the library based on the needs of a broad network of users. Librarians committed to customer service, professional development, and innovative thinking, of course, make this all possible. Their work and the essential work of other dedicated staff make the library a success and ensure its continuing relevance in an ever-changing environment. Add to this the contribution made by the Friends of the Worcester Public Library (through volunteer work, fundraising, and the operation of the library bookstore and café) and Worcester’s library shines.

While other municipalities have decimated their libraries, Worcester’s City Council and City Manager Mike O’Brien have demonstrated wisdom and foresight in recognizing the library as a critical component of a vibrant city. I have often thought that you can take the pulse of a municipality by looking at its public library.

Thanks to outstanding leadership from our elected officials and public servants, indispensable partnerships with the colleges (Clark University, WPI, and the Mass. College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences through their PILOT contributions; and Holy Cross through its support of the Library Express), and generous gifts from foundations and donors through the Worcester Public Library Foundation, the pulse of Worcester is easily taken: The heartbeat is healthy in the heart of the commonwealth.

New challenges are on the horizon. As the city looks at promoting development of the district between The Hanover Theatre for the Performing Arts and the library, we must be careful not to injure this vital organ of civic life. The library board made the newspaper when we voted unanimously against the idea of a hockey rink taking over the library parking lot (the McGrath municipal lot). Parking is no small issue: losing or limiting our parking (or moving it two blocks away) might cause access problems that spell the library’s demise. We are asking for a more public process, and we offer the library as the site of a public hearing, a charette, so that — in the words of a wise ancient Roman legal precept — “what concerns all should be decided by all.”

The library is truly a gem in the city’s center. It brings more people into the district than any other institution. It continues to grow and adapt so that the trajectory is toward greater demand over the next few years. In any discussion about development, then, the library, including the issue of parking and easy access, must be in the foreground of the planning.

Kevin M. Dowd is president of the Worcester Public Library’s Board of Directors.

CDL A DELIVERY DRIVERS Home Every Night! Needed for our Worcester Depot! Drive local - No more spending valuable nights away from your family! As a Direct Store Delivery Representative YOU have the opportunity to make a difference with our customers! Provide excellent customer service; interact in a positive manner with our customers; deliver our products to local stores. Be home every night! Work for a Company that has been around for over 80 years! Minimum of 3 months driving experience with CDL A/B; GED or HS diploma required; Must be able to drive a standard transmission. EEO/Veteran/Disability Growing Strong Since1933!